Mumbai’s double-decker buses have been a landmark of the city. However, BEST, the management responsible for the Mumbai bus system, decided to discontinue the double-decker bus service. And you have till September 15 to ride them!
You Have Till September To Ride Mumbai Double-Decker Buses!
On 15 September, the five last buses in BEST’s fleet will be phased out, putting an end to the recognisable double-deckers, a representative for the transportation company announced. By October 5, the open-deck double-deckers, which are popular with visitors for joyrides to Gateway India and down Marine Drive, will also be discontinued.
According to an official, BEST intends to launch electric AC double-deckers on tourist routes as well as 18 additional AC double-deckers. That includes 10 for suburbs and 8 for south Mumbai in the near future.
According to historian Deepak Rao, a few decades ago, Mumbai’s highways were dominated by double-decker buses, with single-deckers predominating in the suburbs. At that time, there were 242 twin-deck buses on the road. However, they will regrettably be phased out. He also expressed his dislike for the new AC ‘avatar’.
Also Read: Mumbaikars, Catch The Last Ride On Our Beloved Double Decker Bus As They Are Being Phased Out!
He further stated that jumping onto the bus and sprinting for the first-row seats on the upper deck is no longer entertaining. And appealed to bring back a modest fleet of non-AC double-deckers.
Mumbaikars Will Miss Their Joyrides
The fleet of double-deckers was downsized to 122 in 2010 and to 120 in 2017. In its annual budget for 2019, BEST advised that 72 double-deckers be scrapped by 2020–21, reducing the fleet to 48 buses.
As per a Times Of India report, a regular traveller Gandharva Purohit reported that on July 8, a group of bus enthusiasts leased a double-decker for a joyride across south Mumbai via the Bandra-Worli sea link. As well as on Marine Drive and the Gateway of India. He stated that the trip was nostalgic and wonderful and the double-decker buses will be missed.
Ninad Kulkarni, another commuter, recalled that the breeze hitting his face on the upper deck front seat. And a panoramic view of Marine Drive was a cool experience.
Also Read: Mumbaikars, The City Will Have 700 AC Electric Double-Decker Buses By Mid-2024!
A senior BEST official stated that they would soon think about reintroducing a small fleet of twin-deck buses.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia